Furnace smoke model or demonstrating device



Oct. 30

W. E. JOHNSTON FURNACE SMOKE MODEL OR DEMONSTRATING DEVICE Filed ay 12. 1922 Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES WAYBURN E. JOHNSTON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

FURNACE SMOKE MODEL OR DEMONSTRATING DEVICE.

Application filed May 12,

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, WAYBURN E. JOHN- STON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace Smoke Models or Demonstrating Devices; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a demonstrating device or model, and particularly to such a model in the form of a furnace. The type of furnace illustrated is that of a heat treating furnace inwhich are placed carbonizing boxes, the furnace being heated by hot gases discharged thereinto at one end.

It is an object of the invention to produce a device which will simulate the structure of said furnace and by means of which the gas currents and the circulation of the gas therein can be observed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device in which a visible gas is circulated to indicate the said currents or circulation, said device also being equipped with means for cooling the visible gases and for discharging the same from the model.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following description made in connection with the accom anying drawings in which like reference c aracters refer to the same parts throughout the diiferent views, and in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a central transverse section of Fig. 2.

eferring to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 1, a series of models or boxes or cabinets 0 is shown and a pipe or conduit 1 has branches connected to inlet openings in said member. A pipe 2 is intermediately connected to the pipe 1 and extends down into a cooling liquid shown as contained in a vessel 3. A pipe 4 is connected to the pipe 2 from which extends a pipe 6 which is eqpipped with a cut-off valve 7, beyond w ich the pipe leads to a smoke producing device 8. The pipe 4 projects beyond the pipe 6 and has an open end between which 1922. Serial No. 560,516.

pipe 6 through a central opening in its bottom portion. The pipe 10 also has branches communicating with openings in the cabinets a and each branch is equipped with a cut-off valve 11. A fan 12 has its inlet side connected to the pipe or conduit 10 by a pipe 13 and has an open ended pipe 14 connected to its outlet side.

The cabinets a are in the embodiment of the invention shown herein, constructed to simulate the structure of a furnace. As shown in Fig. 3, these cabinets are constructed as miniature furnaces, a portion of which has been cut away so that the model or cabinet represents a section of the furnace. The furnace structure comprises the walls a heating chamber a having the floor section a on Which are supported the spaced vessels or boxes 15. Vent passages 0. extend under the section a and outlet passages a extend from the chamber 0. to the passages a, from whence the outlet passages a lead to the exterior of the furnace or cabinets a. The inlet for the furnace structure in the cabinet is shown in Fig. 2 at a, which passage extends into a projection a having the chamber forming cap a thereon with which the pipe 1 connects.

As shown in Fig. 3, the front of the cabinet at is open and a frame member 16 containing a glass 17 is secured on the front of the cabinets by projecting bolts passing, therethrough to which wing nuts 18 are applied. A packing material of felt or simi lar substance 19 is disposed around the glam between the same and the wall a to insure a gas or smoke-tight joint.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Smoke producing material and fuel, such as charcoal, are placed in the erforated cup 9. While any smoke producing material. may be used, one substance which has been found to give good results is the incense powder which is commonly used in churches.

The valve 7 is then opened and as many of the valves 11 as it is desired to operate models. The fan 12 being started, air Will be drawn through the vessel 8 and the smoke generated therein will be drawn through the pipes 6 and 2 and in passing through the latter, the smoke and gases Wlll. be sufficiently cooled to avoid any danger of burning or igniting the cabinets a. The smoke passes through the pipe 1 into the inlet openings in the said cabinets which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, are designated as (1 The gas will be drawn through the cabinets and out through the outlet openings thereof through the pipes 10, fan 12 and discharged through tlie pipe 14 at some suitable and convenient p ace.

The cabinets (in representing the furnace structure, the smoke will be discharged thereinto and will travel as do the hot or burning gases in the actual furnace. The smoke being visible through the glass plate forming the front of the cabinet, the currents generated in the heating chamber 2 can be clearly observed. By having the different cabmets w represent different models of furnaces, a comparison of the circulation in these furnaces can thus be readily made. The path of the gas currents is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. When it is desired to clear the smoke from the cabinets, the valve 7 will be closed and the valve 5 opened. Clear air will then be drawn through the cabinet a and will carry all smoke therefrom.

The material to be treated is sometimes piled in the furnace in the form of blocks or otherwise and the carbonizing boxes are then not used. The members 15 Would then represent such piles of material to be treated. It will, of course, be understood that the smoke may be forced through the model by pressure as well as being drawn therethrough 'by suction. One advantage of the suction method is that the smoke does not blow out of the model at points'of leakage as it would when pressure is used with a model not absolutely air tight. If the cabinet be made air tight, there would be no ap reciable difference between the methods.

rom the above description it is seen that applicant has provided an apparatus which is very useful in studying the action of the gases in a furnace or similar structure and by means of which such circulation can be visualized. The device is simple and can be easily and safely operated.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details and arrangement of the apparatus without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A demonstrating device comprising a cabinet simulating a chamber having a portion cut away to render the interior visible, said afbiUP-t having inlet and outlet openings, means for passing a visible gas into the inlet opening and out through the outlet opening, means in said cabinet affecting the path of said transparent front or said cabinet whereby the path of the gas as affected by said means can be seen.

2. A demonstrating device comprising a box simulating a furnace having a portion cut away having inlet and outlet openings, objects therein simulating objects to be heated, and means for passing a visible agent through said box and the inlet and outlet passages, said cabinet having a transparent front whereby the circulation of gases can be observed.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said transparent front being detachable.

f. A demonstrating device comprising a cabinet simulating a central section throu h a furnace structure having inlet and outl et openings, boxes in said cabinet simulating carbonizing boxes, and means for passing a visible agent through said cabinet, said cabinet having a transparent front whereby the circulation of gases may be observed.

5. A device of the class described comprising a series of cabinets simulating sections through furnace structures, each having inlet and outlet openings, a conduit connected to said inlet openings, a conduit connected to said outlet openings, valves associated with the outlet opening of each cabinet, and said cabinets having transparent fronts thereon, and means for drawing a visible agent through said inlet, conduit of the cabinets to said outlet conduit.

6. A device of the class described comprising a series of cabinets, each simulating a furnace structure having inlet and outlet openings, an outlet conduit having branches connected to the outlet openings of each cabinet, cut-off valves in said branches, a suction fan connected to said outlet conduit, an inlet conduit having branches connected to the inlet openings of said cabinet and a smoke producing device connected to said inlet conduit.

7 The structure set forth in claim 6, and a cooling device through which a portion of said inlet conduit passes.

8. The structure set forth in claim 6, said inlet conduit being provided with a cut-off valve.

9. The structure set forth in claim '6, said inlet conduit being provided with a projecting open ended branch conduit between the cabinets and the smoke producting device, a cut-off valve in said branch conduit and a cut-off valve in said inlet conduit between said branch and smoke roducing device.

In testimony whereof aflix my signature.

WAYBURN E.- JOHNSTON.

as therethrough, and a- 

